Winter is not everyone's favourite season. The days are becoming shorter and darker, the weather is getting colder and wetter, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a real phenomenon and a significant issue for some people. If your spirits are down throughout the winter and you're searching for ways to make things seem a little bit better, here are some winter blues-busting ideas.

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Lighten Up

Even on the darkest of days, you will immediately feel better if you can make your surroundings brighter and lighter. To make the most of the sunshine, open your blinds and curtains as soon as possible. Reduce the size of tree branches and other obstructions outside your windows to allow more light into your home or workplace. Choose a seat near the window if feasible so that you can get as close to the light as possible for as long as possible. You can also buy a lightbox, which is a device that delivers artificial light into your work or home area; spending only half an hour a day next to one of these is thought to be an effective treatment for SAD.

It is also possible to mimic sunrise in order to make your day seem brighter and longer. This is ideal for those who have difficulty waking up in the mornings when it is dark and grey. The dawn simulator progressively lights up over a predetermined time period, enabling you to wake up naturally feeling fully refreshed.

Enjoy Hot Drinks

When you're feeling under the weather, having a cup of anything hot to drink can be very beneficial. Why? It all comes down to emotions. Feeling warm causes you to see things in a more favourable perspective, even when they would usually be less appealing. Having some herbal tea bags or beans from a speciality coffee company or perhaps some exotic cocoa to use can make a bad day better, and waking up to the scent of brewing coffee can definitely give you a lift in the morning.

Choose Food Carefully

Some meals, like some drinks, can be beneficial at this time of year. Chocolate, for example, has been shown to improve mood and is a wonderful treat at the end (or middle, or beginning) of a dreary winter day; you just need to be careful about how much of it you eat. 

Although it can be tempting when it's chilly outside, eating stodgy, heavy meals will actually make you feel worse as your body attempts to fight the fats and sugars, as well as your worry and sadness. Keep things light; a cup of soup or a freshly baked panini will do the trick.

Exercise

Another approach to combating the winter blues is to get some exercise. Exercising generates serotonin, often known as the happy hormone. Once this begins to circulate through your body, you will feel more upbeat and productive. Exercise is particularly beneficial since we tend to sit a lot more during the winter. For example, in the summer, we will often walk or cycle more; in the winter, we use the bus or drive or just stay home instead.